Named for the local [[Richwood Presbyterian Church|church]] that predated it, the [[towns|town]] of Richwood grew up along the Covington-Lexington turnpike (U.S. 25), which linked Northern Kentucky with the Kentucky Bluegrass region. ​ The level to gently rolling farmland around Richwood is the richest in eastern [[Boone County]], and farmers there were well-served by an excellent [[transportation in boone county|transportation]] network.

Named for the local [[Richwood Presbyterian Church|church]] that predated it, the [[towns|town]] of Richwood grew up along the Covington-Lexington turnpike (U.S. 25), which linked Northern Kentucky with the Kentucky Bluegrass region. ​ The level to gently rolling farmland around Richwood is the richest in eastern [[Boone County]], and farmers there were well-served by an excellent [[transportation in boone county|transportation]] network.

The prosperity of some Richwood farms relied on [[African-Americans|African-American]] slave labor, as well as Irish immigrant labor. ​ In the years before the [[Civil War]], the capture of runaway [[slavery|slaves]] from Richwood gained national attention, especially the case of [[Margaret Garner]].

The prosperity of some Richwood farms relied on [[African-Americans|African-American]] slave labor, as well as Irish immigrant labor. ​ In the years before the [[Civil War]], the capture of runaway [[slavery|slaves]] from Richwood gained national attention, especially the case of [[Margaret Garner]].

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The Civil War came to the Richwood area on September 25, [[1862]] with the [[Skirmish at Snow's Pond]], near the village of [[Kensington]]. ​ A Kentucky Highway marker now marks the site of the encounter, which was one of only two Civil War engagements in Boone County.

The Civil War came to the Richwood area on September 25, [[1862]] with the [[Skirmish at Snow's Pond]], near the village of [[Kensington]]. ​ A Kentucky Highway marker now marks the site of the encounter, which was one of only two Civil War engagements in Boone County.

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In the mid-[[1870s]],​ the Cincinnati, New Orleans & Texas Pacific [[railroads|Railroad]],​ later part of the Southern Railroad system, laid tracks parallel to the Dry Ridge Divide, stopping at [[Walton]] and Richwood. ​ A depot and section house were built in town, and a pond was dug to supply water for the steam locomotives. ​ The depot was the center of the small community, with a general store and a [[schools|schoolhouse]] nearby. ​ On the west side of the tracks farmer [[Wesley Hoggins]] operated a horse barn, cattle barn, and scales. ​ A [[banks|bank]] was founded in 1909 but closed after several years of operation.

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In the mid-[[1870s]],​ the Cincinnati, New Orleans & Texas Pacific [[railroads|Railroad]],​ later part of the Southern Railroad system, laid tracks parallel to the Dry Ridge Divide, stopping at [[Walton]] and Richwood. ​ A depot and section house were built in town, and a pond was dug to supply water for the steam locomotives. ​ The depot was the center of the small community, with a general store and a [[schools|schoolhouse]] nearby. ​ On the west side of the tracks farmer [[Hoggins family|Wesley Hoggins]] operated a horse barn, cattle barn, and scales. ​ A [[banks|bank]] was founded in 1909 but closed after several years of operation.

With the construction of Interstate 75, car and truck traffic through Richwood vastly increased, and large-scale commercial and industrial development followed. ​ By the 1990s Richwood was part of an industrial corridor extending south from [[Florence]] toward [[Walton]].

With the construction of Interstate 75, car and truck traffic through Richwood vastly increased, and large-scale commercial and industrial development followed. ​ By the 1990s Richwood was part of an industrial corridor extending south from [[Florence]] toward [[Walton]].